For details about Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America, visit michiganmodern.org.

Physical design/walkability is one of eight assets the Michigan Municipal League has identified as making desirable and vibrant communities for the 21st Century. But strong physical design didn't happen by chance.

Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America is a symposium and exhibit hosted by Michigan's State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) that will show how innovative, chance-taking designers and architects left an indelible mark on the American cultural landscape. The event is to tell the story of Michigan designers and architects who met the challenge of a new century with optimism and spirit. They defined the look of the twentieth century with iconic pieces like the Eames Lounge Chair by the Herman Miller Furniture Company, the expressive styling of automobile details like the fins on a Cadillac, and the corporate campus image and office environment of the General Motors Technical Center.

The State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) is hosting a symposium June 13-16 that will bring together national experts in design and architecture who will provide their own unique insight on the people, places, and events that populated Michigan’s design world and about why Michigan should take its rightful place as a twentieth-century design powerhouse alongside New York City and Los Angeles. The SHPO is also partnering with MPdL Studio of Ann Arbor and Cranbrook Art Museum on an exhibition that will showcase Michigan’s outstanding contribution to Modern design. The exhibition will be open to the public June 14-October 13, 2013.

For details about Michigan Modern: Design that Shaped America, visit michiganmodern.org.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

Eastpointe Mayor Suzanne Pixley has written a new book about her community now available online.

Michigan Municipal League board member Suzanne Pixley has written a new book about the people who helped make her community - Eastpointe - what it is today.

Legendary Locals of Eastpointe was written by Pixley, mayor of Eastpointe, and published by Arcadia Publishing. It's available at area bookstroes, independent retailers, and online retailers, or through Arcadia Publishing at (888) 313-2665 or online.

According to a news release about the book, Eastpointe was first settled in the early 1800s by Irish and German immigrants, who had traveled to a new country to find a better life. The inherent values of strong education, hard work and love of home and family have continued throughout the city's history into modern times.

In the past 200 years, many locals have become legendary as they strived in various ways to pursue excellence. As notable as the achievements of hometown hero astronaut Jerry Leninger and the athletic power of All-American Ron Kramer, there are also the stories of unsung heroes, which are now told. Legendary Locals of Eastpointe celebrates some of the individuals who have left their mark on the city.

Highlights of Legendary Locals of Eastpointe: Showcases the rich heritage of active citizens that have contributed their time and efforts on local, state and even national causes to make this region viable; and Includes business leaders, cultural leaders, medical leaders, military leaders, political leaders, sports leaders and community founders and leaders.

Pixley’s interest in local history comes naturally having grown up in the city where her grandfather first purchased a farm in 1910. Her knowledge of local businesses, high school programs and alumni accomplishments make her a natural to record the history and the people who were part of the development. As the current Mayor of the City of Eastpointe, she has also become keenly aware of the historical background of the many aspects of municipal government. She graduated from Henry Ford Hospital School of Nursing in 1961, advancing her education with additional Bachelor and Master’s Degrees from the University of Michigan in the 70’s, followed by Doctor Studies in Community and National Development.

She is an active volunteer with various community service organizations and has been recognized at state, county and local levels for her volunteer actions. She has received the National Daughters of the American Revolution award for Historical Preservation, as well as a Keep Michigan Beautiful Award for individual volunteer landscaping projects in Eastpointe’s Downtown area. She has also received awards from the Michigan Municipal League where she now serves a three year term on the Board of Trustees.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

The 2012 CEA finalists after being selected at the 2012 Capital Conference.

The Village of Lexington in Michigan’s Thumb region as well as Albion, South Haven and St. Joseph in the southern portion of the state are among the first communities to enter the Michigan Municipal League’s 2013 Community Excellence Award (CEA) competition.

The CEA is a spirited competition that recognizes innovative solutions taking place in MML-member communities. The contest officially gets under way during the League’s Capital Conference (April 9-10 in Lansing) but communities interested in participating can submit entry forms now at this link.

The small Village of Lexington, population 1,178, was the first to announce its entry into the CEA, affectionately called “The Race for the Cup” and St. Joseph, the 2007 winner of the Cup, and South Haven, and Albion entered this week. The League is seeking nominations from communities of all sizes from throughout the state. The 2012 winner was Grandville and you can view other past winners here. You can view past CEA presentations here.

Communities will compete in the first round of the competition during regional meetings at the League’s Capital Conference. Attendees of the Regional Roundtables will vote on the projects, and the regional winner will go on to compete at League's Annual Convention taking place in Detroit in September.

Remember, giving a five minute, “elevator pitch” style presentation at your Regional Roundtable at our Capital Conference is the ONLY way to enter!

Here's how to get involved in this year's CEA competition:

1.) Register: Click here for the online Community Excellence Award entry form.

2.) Prepare Entry: Prepare a five (5) minute verbal “elevator pitch” style presentation. Optional:  Bring a 2 x 3 ft display board of your project/initiative; we will display it on an easel during the meeting.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 and mbach@mml.org.

Dan Gilmartin and Natalie Burg talk about aging in place on the Prosperity Agenda radio show.

From now until 2030, AARP predicts all 50 states will see a “rapid acceleration in growth” in their elderly populations as baby boomers turn 65.

During this month’s Prosperity Agenda radio show on News/Talk 760 WJR the Michigan Municipal League's Dan Gilmartin and guests talk about retiring baby boomers and the unprecedented opportunity they bring to cities and downtowns ready to accommodate them.

Several Michigan communities, such as Marquette, Holland and Howell, are already recognized for meeting this challenge and becoming thriving environments for retirees. The show airs 7 p.m. Wednesday on News/Talk 760 WJR, but you can listen to the show anytime here on our website or by podcast here. You can register now for the Age-Friendly Communities Conference coming Feb 28 to UM-Ann Arbor.

The host of the show is League CEO Dan Gilmartin and his co-host for this first show of 2013 is Natalie Burg, a writer and owner of Vial Half Full Communications. Natalie is a former Downtown Development Director in Owosso and now writes about cities, placemaking and downtowns for numerous outlets including Metromode and Ann Arbor’s Concentrate. Our other guests are Marquette City Manager Bill Vajda, Barbara Spreitzer-Berent, an urban planner and gerontologist who serves as volunteer state coordinator for health and supportive services for AARP Michigan; and Joe Borgstrom, director of downtown and community services division for the Michigan State Housing Development Authority (MSHDA). The Prosperity Agenda is a monthly radio show that challenges listeners to help make Michigan a better place to live, work and play by creating vibrant and prosperous local communities. It airs on News/Talk 760 WJR on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

Matt Bach is director of media relations for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at (734) 669-6317 or mbach@mml.org.